Channel Islands - Day 3 (6/1)

[Latimeria]

We were up just before gray light and hopes were high.  Most of the fleet was away from us but the one guy that was next to us last night was gone.  We weren't sure what happened to him but would later find out why he probably left.

We pinned on some big squid and had 7 rods set up around the boat.  It was a slow start but finally I saw my rod tip do a little dance.  It never bent straight over but I wound down on it and voila!  Fish on!

I took my time since I didn't want to lose my first real fish of the trip!  Not big but not Bad either!  Flatty!



The3 bite continued to be slow so we whipped up some breakfast bowls.  Everything tastes better on the water.



We finished our breakfast and started to get a little more active with checking baits and casting new stuff.



Scott gets the next bite and the rod doubles over!  Another flatty on the deck!



A slow pick, but we were hoping the tide change would help things out a bit.

Next bite was Scott again and this one totally was different.  It shot straight up to the anchor and around the boat.  Definitely a Sea Bass!

A few minutes later and we boated an 18#er!



Not the 40-50 pounder we were hoping for, but Sea Bass all the same!



The tide changed and once again Scott was on!  Another nice halibut!



Then it was Matt's turn.  Matt didn't care too much about posing with the fish, but it was a tick one!



Now I'm getting a complex since I couldn't get in on the fun.  I know it was getting close to pulling the anchor and heading in so it was now or never.  Then I saw a bite on my virgin rod/reel.  By the time I reached for the rod it was pinned in the rod holder!  I could feel it was a really big flatty!  I definitely worked him slow since he didn't know he was hooked.  We heard of about 10 halibut from 40-50 pounds caught the last few days so I didn't want to wake him if he was a giant.

Well, he wasn't a giant, but new PB! (not by much)



36+# hali hit the deck!

I immediately drop down again since the bell was ready to sound and saw another bite!  Wow, I was feeling good at this point!

Another legit flatty!



We tried for about 30 more minutes and called it.  Unfortunately, our cow tuna bag was plugged with so many fish on the swim platform that we had to take all of the fish out so we could bring the bag into the boat.  The bag was so full it was pressing against the motors and he wouldn't have been able to turn.  LOL

Money Shot.



As he moved forward to pull the anchor we noticed line wrapped around the chain.  As they were pulling it out, I noticed it wrapped around the motor!  Those f@ckers next to us tangled in our chain and decided to leave last night.  What a pain in the ass!



We finally got it out without any issues to the prop or lower unit.  There was about a whole spool of braid after we pulled it all in. 



I actually had to cut it as we were hand lining it in but there was something at the other end and it wasn't a fish.

At least we got something out of this mess.



The ride back was smoother than they've ever seen it.  I didn't know any better, but we were running 34 knots the entire way back!



It was actually cool to see the island.  I definitely didn't see it on the way out!  I loved all of the caves.



We get back and pack up the truck.  It was going to be a long ride home with the 101 at a standstill, but thankfully Waze knew a back road that saved us about an hour of traffic.  I hated driving back in that mess.

We kept everything on ice and I met Scott at the Boat Club the next morning to start cutting.  We covered the 4'x8' table and still had over a dozen fish in the bag!  We were a machine cutting and bagging.



I got home and got some work done before spending the next few hours vacuum sealing everything.

Well that's a wrap!  My first trip to the Channel Islands didn't disappoint!  I think we're going back in 3 weeks unless I get picked for a Federal Trial.  Friggin Federal Jury duty is not like the Sate jury duty.  They don't except any excuses and will come for you if you blow it off.

Thanks for reading and I hoped you enjoyed the posts!

[jrodda]

Awesome trip! Really made it on the last day. Congrats on the PB halibut, that's a friggand nice one.

Makes me ponder an overnighter on the New Hustler up there, for old time's sake.

[Tim524]

Wow, you guys got some quality fish, well done !

Where did all the leaves come from ?

Not being able to steer the boat because the Kill Bag was too full is a good problem to have, great trip !!!

[Latimeria]

Awesome trip! Really made it on the last day. Congrats on the PB halibut, that's a friggand nice one.

Makes me ponder an overnighter on the New Hustler up there, for old time's sake.

They're crushing the WSB and halibut up there.  I can't believe how well they're doing!  Get your butt out there!  lol

[Pinoyfisher]

I still haven't caught a legal WSB or even taste one   Great trip Tom!